Proverbs 11:7. When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
You can’t take it with you. This is exactly what Solomon’s proverb is reminding us of, especially for the wicked. The fact is, when the wicked person dies they have no hope at all. No hope in wealth, but also no hope in anything.
This is why to place our hope in riches is so foolish. Death is the great equalizer. It removes all of us from our money. Any treasure we stored up on earth is left behind. This is why we must turn our lives over to the glory of Christ and receive his eternal life and his eternal hope. Christ is our eternal treasure and his reward is ours when we trust in him alone for salvation.
This proverb isn’t telling us anything new. If you are a Christian, you likely know all of this already, at least in your head. But has it travelled down to your heart? Has your heart found the freedom from expectation that it needs for you to truly thrive? Expectations in this life can destroy you. Expectations like:
I will make this salary.
I will retire at this age.
I will save up for this thing.
Such expectations set a bar over our heads that become the new measure of our success. Rather than finding our success in Christ’s success, we find it in our bank account, retirement plan, and mutual funds. We find it in the next job, the next opportunity, the next investment. Or we feel hopeless because we apparently lack such opportunities to gain wealth and power.
And don’t think, well I’m poor so I don’t have this problem. Nope. Greed is a universal problem. Hoping in wealth is not limited to the rich. In fact, the “poor” may be even more susceptible to such idolatry.
In Christ we are no longer wicked. Not because we no longer do wicked things, but because we have been identified with the righteousness of Christ. God has transferred us from the kingdom of darkness and placed us in the Kingdom of his dear Son. Knowing this to be our new position in Christ, we can place our hope in things eternal. Lasting things that are rooted in a lasting love. We can store up treasure in Heaven, the treasure of Spirit, the treasure of the soul.
Trust God, work hard, but be free from expectations. If riches come, praise God. If they don’t, praise God. For no earthly thing is our hope. Only Christ can be our hope in life and death.
You: To what degree are you hoping in your wealth?
You in Christ: How does the hope of eternal life change our perspective on earthly treasure?
Christ in you: What day to day practice might look different for you if you were trusting in Christ more than in your wealth? Would you be more giving? Less worried?
Pray: Father, you have transferred me from wickedness to righteousness. Let my attitude toward the things of this Earth reflect who I am in Christ. Amen.
To Live is Christ 